Bishop Gorman star QB Martell commits to Texas A&M

Bishop Gorman junior quarterback Tate Martell gets the comparisons to Johnny Manziel everywhere he goes. The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound gunslinger added one more link to the mix Thursday evening when he announced his commitment to Texas A&M.

By Ashton Ferguson Las Vegas Review-Journal

August 21, 2015 - 12:00 am

Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell scrambles away from St. John Bosco defensive back Traveon Beck during their game in September 2014 at Bishop Gorman. On Thursday, he announced his commitment to Texas A&M.
Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell passes in the first half of a Division I state semifinal against Liberty at Rancho High School in November. Martell threw for 2,537 yards and 40 touchdowns as a sophomore and ran for 433 yards and five TDs in leading the Gaels to a 15-0 record
Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal

Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell (18) rushes for a touchdown in the first half of their Division I state football semifinal game against Liberty at Rancho High School in Las Vegas Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. Bishop Gorman defeated Liberty 50-0. (Josh Holmberg/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Bishop Gorman‘s Tate Martell (18) throws a pass down field against the Raiders during the first half of the NIAA Nevada State High School Division I Championships game at Damonte Ranch High School on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014 in Reno, Nev. (Photo by Kevin Clifford/Special to the Review-Journal)

Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell hands off to halfback Russell Booze during their game against St. John Bosco Friday, Sept. 26, 2014 at Bishop Gorman. Gorman won the game 34-31. (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Bishop Gorman junior quarterback Tate Martell gets the comparisons to Johnny Manziel everywhere he goes. After all, the two share a similar size, look and style of play.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound gunslinger added one more link to the mix Thursday evening when he announced his commitment to Texas A&M.

“I’m going to Texas A&M because I feel like it’s the best fit for me as a player,” Martell said. “And obviously the college feel that I got when I took my visit was something else. That’s the school I really want to be at for the next four years.”

Martell, a consensus four-star recruit and the second overall quarterback in the class of 2017, according to ESPN.com, visited College Station in late July and immediately knew it was the right school for him.

“I wasn’t planning on committing this early,” he said. “But when I went out to the school and checked everything out there, it just seemed like the best fit for me. I didn’t want to miss an opportunity to play for a great school like that. That’s where I really want to go, and I’m not changing my decision.”

“In seventh grade, honestly, I think if any college would’ve offered, he would have committed,” Gorman coach Kenny Sanchez said. “The difference now is obviously he’s a little more mature, and he’s got a bunch of offers so now he can actually make a decision. … He’s got some God-given gifts that a lot of kids don’t have. The future is bright for him as long as he keeps working hard.”

Martell threw for 2,537 yards and 40 touchdowns as a sophomore. He was intercepted twice. He also ran for 433 yards and five TDs in leading the Gaels to a 15-0 record and the mythical national championship.

Though he knows the comparisons to Manziel will strengthen once he steps foot on the Texas A&M campus, Martell said he is ready to create his own legacy at Kyle Field.

“I don’t want to be the next Johnny Manziel, I want to be the first Tate Martell,” he said. “And I’m going to prove to people when I get there that I’m a different type of player and hopefully can help lead the team to a national championship like I’ve done here (at Gorman).”

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.